Seal for washing machines or the like



April 6, 1943.

E. A. EBERT SEAL FOR WASHING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Original Filed Nov.19, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENT OR.

April 6, 1943.

E. A. EB ERT SEAL FOR WASHING MACHINES OR- THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Nov. 19,-1938 INVENTQR.

Patented Apr. 6, 1943 2,315,604 SEAL F OR WASHING IIVEIACHINES OR THELIK Edward A. Ebert, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Chicago ElectricManufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Originalapplication November 19, 1938, Serial No.

Divided and this 1940, Serial No. 343,692

3 Claims. '(Cl. 68-432) The present invention relates to a seal for awashing machine or the like and more particularly to a seal for a deviceor container in which there is employed an agitator or like element.

The present .invention is specifically concerned with the provision of aportable washing machine which occupies a relatively small space bothduring use and during storage.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No.241,357, filed November 19, 1938, for an improvement in a Washingmachine.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a washing machine orthe like, comprising only three parts, which parts are readily assembledand freely separable for cleaning, handling, and arrangement in storage,a resilient frictional engaging means between the part mounting thedriving members and the supporting means for the said part such that nospecial interconnection or clamping means is necessary, while atthesarne time loss of washing rluiol due to agitation or splashing isprevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for so supportinga container cover for a washing machine or the like on thecontainer thatthe forces set up by a driving mechanism carried by the cover andinteracting withmeans in the container will be effectively resistedwithout latching means so that such mechanism cannot cause relativemovement between the cover and the container.

Numerous other objects and advantages will he apparent throughout thecourse and. progress of the following specification wherein:

Fig. l an elevational view of a washing machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention, the lower portions having beenbroken away along a line extending centrally through the machine inorder to disclose the internal structure;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail View taken on line E--L in Fig. l; I

3 is a sectional detail view taken on the line E S in Fig. l;

the

Fig. i is a sectional detail view taken on the line S iin Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through machine on the line 55 in Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on line in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 7-? in Fig. 5,namely, on a plane which is normal to the plane upon which the sectionof Fig. 6 is shown.

The washing machine shown for the purpose of illustrating the presentinvention comprises in general a cylindrical vessel I for enclosing thewash, an agitator i2 normally arranged within the vessel but removabletherefrom, as will hereinafter appear more in detail, and a cover andthe the

application July 3,

drive assembly i 6. The enclosing vessel III is defined by an upstandingcylindrical side wall it closed at its lower end by the bottom wall l8,the upper end of the container per so being open, as clearly shown inFig. 1. It should be noted that the upper edge of the cylindrical wallit is flanged outwardly as at 2% to provide an annular, upwardly facingrecess adapted to receive and support the lower edge of the cover member(Fig. l). The annular flange it terminates radially in an annular,rounded head 22. Handle members it oppositely positioned on the outerupper surface ofthe vessel iii are permanently riveted t the vesselthrough the agency of mfvets The bottom wall it mounts centrally thereofa pivot pin or pintle 253. It will he obvious from a consideration ofFig. i that the pin is secured in place by passing its reduced lowercylindrical end to through a close-fitting aperture in the isottom wallit? and heading over the projecting portion as at A washer is preferablyincluded in the assembly, as shown in the figure, to provide a thrustbearin surface for the agitator. it will be obvious from the above thatthe pintle assembly shown provides a positive, permanent interconnectionfree from any possibility of leakage or failure.

The agitator is formed with central cylind.ical column Elli comprising atube provided with an integral plurality of radially projecting vanes38, having adjacent its lowereud an outwardly projecting flange itradially co-extensive with the vanes. Attention is directed to the factthe internal configuration of the tubular, central cylindrical column issuch as to properly engage the pivot pin 20 in bearing relationship,that is to say, when the agitator ii is positioned upon the pin as shownin Fig. 1 it is pivotally mounted thereon for rotational or oscillatorymovement while being positioned centrally with respect to thewashingcontainer. it should be noted that the lower end of the column235 rests in hearing relationship upon the washer 3 3, the lower inneredge of the column being beveled or chamfered as at (it to enhance, thisfunction. The upper end of the tubular column portion oi the agitator isconfigurated internally as at M (Figs. 1 and 6) for the purpose ofaccommodating a rectangular driving member. That is to say, while thecentral tubular portion of the agitator is cylindrical in the embodimentshown, the upper end provides in axial alinement therewith an apertureof polygonal cross section. The motive driving and transmission meansfor the entire machine is comprised by the top unit it which comprises acircular, somewhat bell-shaped cover '36. It should be noted that'thecover is flanged downwardly adjacent its periphery as at 48' andterminates in a rolled or curved bead 50. the bead 50 serving to mountan annular tubular supporting member 52 annular supporting member 52 ispreferably of some suitable frictional material, preferably havingresilient characteristics, adapted to make firm frictional contact withthe supporting vessel III. This is of great importance, not only inpreventing splashing or leakage'of the washing fluid but also because te parts in operation must necessarily at all times be interengagedsufliciently to resist the reactive forces set up by the actuation ofthe agitator. Thus, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention the interengaging portions of the cover and bodyportion of the washer are preferably free from special interconnectingmeans, being symmetrically, annularly formed so that they may beinstantly assembled by any unskilled person without the necessity ofposi-' tive mechanical interconnection. It has been found, however, inaccordance with the present invention, that the parts are adequatelyengaged I and supported when the annular supporting member 52 iscomposed of rubber, leather or the like.

without regard to close tolerances in manufacture.

The cover unit I4 mounts centrally thereof a driving motor 54 and atransmission assembly 56. The motor, in the embodiment disclosed, has ahandle 58 across its upper end which greatly facilitates themanipulation of the entire cover unit. The motor is mounted on the coverin axial alinement with the agitator, having a drive shaft projectingdownwardly as at 60 (Figs. 6 and 7-). The present motor 54 is providedwith a lower, self-alinin bearing structure. To this end the lower wall62 of the motor housing is formed downwardly or convexly as at B4 andterminates in an annular, inclined flange portion 86 adapted to engage abulged or generally spherical portion of the bearing 68 formed on theshaft. arate sheet member or plate III, apertured upwardly to provide aninclined flange bearing support 72; engages t e upper part of thespherical section 68' and is held in position by tab or finger portions14 extending through opnosed slots IS in the lower wall 62 of the motor.The motor 54 rests upon four upwardly, convexly deformed landings 18,being secured rigidly to the cover by means of machine bolts and nuts 80and 82. It should be noted that the lower wall 62 of the motor housingis apertured as vat 84 toprovide for ventilation, the

top wall being preferably apertured in the same to properly space thehousing from the cover,

the aforementioned machine bolts 80 extending through the housing andthe embossments 94 to rigidly unite the transmission, the cover and themotor.

The cover 92 is additionally provided with an upstanding cylindricalskirt 96. which encloses the shaft 60 and performs the important A sep-The instant structure, moreover, assures the proper interengagement ofthe parts function of sealing the motor bearing with the cooperation ofa sealing washer 98. Thus, the sealing washer 98 is clamped between theupper annular edge of the skirt 96 .and lower portion of the motorhousing, the cover 46 being apertured sufficiently to permit a portionat least of the washer to extend freely therethrough. Attention isparticularly directed to the fact that 'arranged'and assembled in themanner shown in Figs. 6 and 7 it is impossible for the sealing washer tobecome dislocated in any direction.

The present transmission assembly is arranged to transform therotational energy of the drive motorv preferably into oscillatoryreduced motion for transmission to the agitator. For this purpose, thelower end of the drive shaft 60 is provided with a small pinion I00,rigid therewith, which meshes with a larger gear I02. The gear I02carries in axial alinement a pinion I 04 which, in turn, meshes with aspur gear I06. The spur gear I06 has a cylindrical pivot I08 providing acrank, the crank N38 pivotally mounting the end of a rack IIII throughthe agency of a bearing sleeve or bushing H2. The teeth of the rackmember [Ill engage a pinion H4 rigidly pinned as at M5 to a drive shaftH8 (Figs. 6 and 7). The rack am is maintained in engagement with thepinion lit at all times by means of a pin H5 rigid with the bottom wall90 of the housing and engaging the rear side of the rack. Accordingly,in operation, rotation of the motor shaft tit rotates the crank I @8through the medium of the gears Idfl, I62,

EM and I98. The action of the crank I98, accordingly reciprocates therack M8 to cause an oscillatory movement of the shaft I I8. Attention isparticularly directed to the fact that in accordance with the presentstructure the rack IIll slides on the bottom wall 98 of the housing. Thebushing or fitting M2 has an upper flange which supports the gear IE8.That is to say, the gear I 06 is rigid with a supporting shaft In whichis rotatably seated within a receiving recess in the housing, the gearand its shaft being retained in the axial alinement clearly shown inFig. 6 after the housing is assembled. The gear I02 is similarly mountedon the shaft I22 journalled in a similar bearing housing and isprevented from moving axially downwardly by means of a thrust washer I24(Fig. '7), an edge of which engages above the large gear Hi6 so that theassociated assembly is slidingly supported thereon. It will be notedthat the present arrangement permits rapid assembly in that the severalgears may merely be slid into the relative positions shown and the topcover applied to the housing to retain the parts in operative position.It is contemplated that the housing be provided with a suitablelubricant, and, accordingly, a washer or seal I26 is located between theadjoining edges of the top and the main body of the housing. It will beobvious from the above that the application of the machine screws in therelationship shown not only interconnects the transmission, the motorand the cover, but clamps the entire transifnission and its housingtogether as a unit.

The transmission drive or impeller shaft II8 extends downwardly into anadaptor or fitting I 28, being secured thereto by pin I30. The fittingI28 has a cup-shaped configuration at its upper end to receive a greasesealing washer I32. Since the shaft IIB extends through the bottom wallof the transmission housing the seal I32 performs a necessary andimportant function in preventing the influx of foreign matter into theinterior of the washing vessel.

The lower end of the fitting I28 has a polygonal sectional configurationcorresponding to the configuration (f the aforementioned recess oraperture in the upper end of the agitator and is of such a length thatit completely engages in driving relationship with the agitator when theparts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in operation the agitator isrotatably mounted upon the pin 28, after which the top unit is placed inposition upon the upper edge of the washing vessel, at which time theend of the fitting I28 enters into the polygonal aperture in theagitator. In use, the washing vessel will first be supplied with a massof wash and a body of washing fluid so that when the top unit isassembled the washing operation may be commenced by merely supplying themotor 54 with electric current by means of a suitable electric conduit(not shown). Operation of the motor produces a desired oscillatorymovement of the agitator 12, which continues throughout the period ofthe washing operation. I

The present invention provides a structure which is simple, compact andeflicient. The washing vessel is extremely light and may be positionedat any convenient point and readily filled, emptied, and cleaned. Sotoo, the agitator is freely removable from its supporting pin, and whenin disuse the agitator may be removed from the assembly so that thewashing container may be employed for storage purposes.

So also, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided adrive motor which is capable of being adequately ventilated, the motor,as pointed out above, being spaced from the cover a short distance topermit circulating air to enter the lower ventilating apertures 84, asindicated by the arrows in Fig. 6, and to pass out through the upperapertures.

It is unnecessary, according to the present invention, to especiallyarrange the top cover unit or to actuate a special fastening means toretain it in place. The reaction forces set up by the movements of theagitating element in the washing medium and which forces tend to causerotation of the mechanism carrying cover relative to the container areeffectively resisted without such fastening means. Hence assembly of themachine for use is simplified, its operation rendered more silent, andpossibility of splashing eliminated.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purposeof illustrating the invention.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine of the type comprising an upstanding,cylindrical vessel having an annular upper rim, a cover for said vessel,and an electric driving motor and transmission mechanism mounted thereonfor driving an agitator within the vessel, said cover being free frommechanical interconnection with said vessel and completely bodilyremovable therefrom, said cover having an annular, outer margin adaptedto rest upon the upper rim of the vessel, and means for preventingdisplacement of the cover with respect to the vessel by the reactionaryforces set up by the agitator when the cover is disposed in operativeposition on the vessel and the agitator is driven by the motor throughthe transmission mechanism, said means comprising an annular member ofresilient frictional material embracing and gripping said margin of thecover, the frictional material on the under side of the cover beingwedged between the cover and the rim of the vessel when the cover isdisposed in operative position on the vessel, said wedged part of theresilient, frictional material frictionally fixing the cover to thevessel against displacement by said reactionary forces and sealing thecover to the vessel against loss of washing fluid therebetween.

2. In a washing machine of the type comprising an upstanding,cylindrical vessel having an annular upper, laterally extending rimportion, a cover for said vessel, and an electric motor and transmissionmechanism mounted on said cover for driving an agitator within thevessel, said cover being free from mechanical interconnection with saidvessel and completely bodily removable therefrom, said cover having anannular rim portion adapted to overlie the laterally extending upper rimportion of the cover, and means for preventing angular displacement ofthe cover with respect to the vessel by the reactionary forces set up bythe agitator, one of said rim portions having an annular recess definedby walls converging in a direction away from the other of said rimportions, the other of said rim portions comprising an annular beadpositioned for reception in said annular recess,--.

said means comprising an annular strip of resilient, frictional materialembracing and gripping said bead and being wedged within said convergingwalls of said recess to frictionally fix the cover to the vessel againstdisplacement by said reactionary forces and seal the cover to the vesselagainst loss of washing fluid therebetween.

3. In a washing machine of the type comprising an upstanding,cylindrical vessel having an upper rim, a cover for said vessel, anelectric driving motor and transmission mechanism mounted on said'coverfor driving an agitator disposed within, and co -axially of, the vessel,said cover being free from mechanical interconnection with said vesseland completely bodily removable therefrom, said cover having a rimportion provided with an annularly disposed and downwardly extendingsurface inclined with respect to the axis of the vessel, and means forpreventing angular displacement of the cover with respect to the vesselby the reactionary forces set up by the agitator, said vessel having atsaid rim an annular surface complementary to said inclined surface ofthe cover, said means comprising an annular rubber member embracing andgripping the rim portion of the cover and wedged between the inclinedsurface of the cover and the complementary surface of the ves sel whenthe cover is positioned on the vessel to frictionally fix the coveragainst angular displacement relative to the vessel by said forces andto seal the cover to the vessel against loss I of washing fluidtherebetween.

EDWARD A. E'BERT.

